Jar-wrench



(No Model.)

H. S. HAWES.

JAR WRENCH.

No. 430,287. Patented June 17, 1890.

IN VEN TOR 9y A A/M WITNESSES ZWZ M fitter-nay.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY S. HAWVES, OF ll/IAROELLUS, MICHIGAN.

JAR-WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,287, dated June 1'7, 1890.

Application filed November 25, 1889. Serial No. 331,571. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY S. HAWES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marcellus, in the county of Cass and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Jarrenches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in can-wrenches to be used in connection with fruit-cans having a sealingcover that screws on; and it consists in forming such wrench of a continuous piece of metal or wire, in providing said wrench with a resilient loop to receive the cover of the can, and having an inwardly-projecting spur adapted to be pressed against the periphery of the can-cover or engage with thelug thereof by the grasping of the handles of the wrench, whereby the wrench is prevented from slipping when turning the cover of the can, as in screwing it down or unscrewing it.

The object of the invention is to produce a light, cheap, and serviceable wrench, bymeans of which the cover of afruit-can may be readily and securely screwed down, as when putting up fruit, or easily and quickly unscrewed when desiring to open a can. This object is attained by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is atop plan of the can and cover, showing my improved wrench thereon. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. l, the bottom of the can being broken away. Fig. 3 is a View of the wrench removed from the can.

Referring to the letters of reference in the drawings, A indicates the body of the can, and C the top or cover that is screwed thereon, said cover having the lug c on the periphery thereof, this form of can and cover being such as are in common use and well known to the trade.

continuous piece of spring-wire, the handle D being formed by the return-bend f. The wire is then wound one or more times around itself at e, leaving the protruding end that forms the spur a, the remaining portion of the wire forming the spring-loop b and handle t. cover O of the can, its circle being slightly larger than the periphery of said cover, so that when placed thereon the handles D t of the wrench will stand apart, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

To unscrew the cover of a can, the wrench is placed thereon, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the spur a bearing against the lug c on the periphery of the cover. The handles D t are then grasped by the hand and sprung together, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, which contracts the loop I), causing it to bind tightly upon the cover, when by exerting a force on the handles D t the cover maybe unscrewed. The cover may be screwed down in the manner as above described, in which operation the spur a of the wrench is placed on the opposite side of the lug c from that shown in Fig. 1 by turning the wrench over, as will be readily understood. The Wrench, however, is as effective on can-covers that are not. provided with the lug 0, (shown in Figs. 1 and 2,) as the force exerted by the contraction of the loop I) anchors the spur or against the cover sufficiently to prevent the wrench from slipping.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A spring-metal wrench formed of a single piece having the looped handle, the spur on the inner end thereof, the loop e, encircling said spur, and loop Z), terminating with the handle t, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signaturedn presence of two witnesses.

HENRY S. I-IAWES.

Witnesses:

W. J. SAMPSON, JOSEPH THOMPSON.

The loop I) is adapted to environ the 

